"Stand up!" he bellowed, looking at the younger man with an expression of utter ferocity. "You blind, thick-witted fool!"
Captain Cherriton's pallid features were flushed, an angry light lit in his eye. He opened his mouth and was about to speak, but von Kuhne swept the words out of his mouth with a savage gesture.
"Speak no words to me, you —— but read that letter!"
He thrust Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's closely-written sheets into the younger man's hands.
"Read that!" he roared, "and see to what pass you have brought us!"
Cherriton began to read, and as he read the colour left his face. Von Kuhne hurried to the bell and jangled it savagely. Conrad precipitated himself into the room in a state of nervous agitation. He was used to authority, but he had never yet known a bell to ring with such violence.
Doctor Voules's face turned towards him did nothing to dissipate his alarm.
"Tell Herr Manwitz to come here this instant," roared Voules.
"Very good, Excellenz." He paused a moment, then added: "Mr. Bernard Treves is here, Excellenz. Shall I also tell him to enter?"
Doctor Voules drew in a deep breath. He turned slowly and looked into Cherriton's eyes.